Akabane Karma POV
The bell rang, and the second half of the sports festival began.
It was time for the recommended participants' events. Only elite students from each class would take part in the remaining four competitions.
"You're participating in the scavenger hunt, right, Karma-kun?"
"Yeah, I'm replacing Matsuo," I answered Shinobu's question.
She nodded.
"Right. You're replacing Eiichiro-kun in all the competitions, is that it?"
"Yes. It's unfortunate. I wanted to enjoy my free afternoon."
"Well, at least you think it's unfortunate," she said while rolling her eyes at my comment.
I chuckled.
If Matsuo got that injury it was his own fault. He should have known his limits instead of trying to get such a meaningless first place.
As the first round of participants for the scavenger hunt began taking their positions, the referees explained the competition before it started.
"Some items in the scavenger hunt are quite difficult to procure. To pick a new item, you can request a redraw, but there will be a thirty-second waiting period. You must make your redraw request to the referee when you draw your lot during the competition. The game ends when three players reach the goal. That's all."
After that explanation, we started getting ready for the second-round scavenger hunt, which I was participating in.
Pretty soon, the first race started. Sayo was participating for Class B in this round. Class C representative was Ibuki, another physically capable student. In the meantime, Classes A and D representatives were... Well, they were participating.
Because of this, Classes A and D were overtaken right at the start, but in this event, speed wasn't the real deciding factor. No, the real deciding factor was which item you drew. The students in the lead searched this way and that way, leaving the field to find their items.
The Class D guy went towards Kiyotaka and was asking something insistently, he even showed him his slip of paper. A moment later, Kiyotaka took off his shoe and gave it to the guy. His name was Ike but whatever.
While everyone else was frenetically searching for their items, Ike went directly towards the goal, Kiyotaka's shoe in hand. Thanks to this lucky draw, he got first place comfortably. He got back to his tent as he muttered something to himself, visibly satisfied.
Moments later, Sayo arrived with her item, Ibuki close behind her. They got second and third place, leaving Class A with the last place.
Soon afterward came the signal for the start of the second race. I quickly went to draw a lot, not having any trouble to arrive first at the box. I reached inside and grabbed a slip of paper. Taking it out, I unfolded it.
"The person you love."
"Heh~?"
I couldn't help but grin.
This should be fun.
Instantly, I stormed back to the place I had left Shinobu and just as she was about to ask me if I needed something, I grabbed her hand and dragged her to the goal.
When we arrived, I gave the slip of paper to the staff member that controlled the items.
"She's the one," I declared boldly.
The guy addressed us an amused expression, winked and accepted my delivery.
"My~, what do you mean, Karma-kun? What's written on that paper?" Shinobu asked with a way too kind smile.
Before I could say anything, the staff member showed her the slip of paper. She looked at me after reading what was on the paper.
"My. I didn't know you felt that way, Karma-kun," she stated.
I could see she didn't believe it for a second, but she would play along. The staff member would never question it, especially if I showed some affection towards Shinobu.
In any case, it's not like they could nullify the results, feelings were something so substantial that if I declared that I liked Shinobu no one could say I was wrong.
"What can I say, Shinobu? The event threw away my plans to charm you."
"You are free to try, Karma-kun."
This was amazing. She was hating every second but was still playing along.
Man, I love this school.
To Shinobu, I am simply the guy that killed his precious sister and got away with it. Now, she had to stand me every day for the next three years, it would soon be two years, though.
"Eh?"
I suddenly grabbed her by the waist, wrapping my arms around her.
"Since my lady requests it," I said before leaning closer for a kiss.
Our faces were centimetres away and just as our lips were about to make contact, she flicked me.
"Ouch."
"If you'll excuse me Karma-kun. I'm participating on the next round."
Leaving us with that statement, Shinobu went to take her position for the next round. I crossed my arms.
"Well, best luck next time," the staff member told me.
I nodded agreeing with his statement. As expected everyone's eyes were on us, and people I was competing against were standing not far from me looking baffled. They had normal items on their hands.
"Man, I have work to do," I stated while scratching my head feigning frustration.
It had been a good act. People were bound to talk about it.
I hadn't planned for this, but the reactions from the onlookers made it worth it.
I wonder if someone will stumble upon the papers I added for this event, though.
Misaka Mikoto POV
I couldn't help but sigh at Karma's act.
I knew he didn't love Shinobu, he just wanted to put up a show in front of everyone.
Whatever. He was free to do as he pleased.
As for me, I just took my position and waited for the fourth round of the scavenger hunt to start.
Ike had won the first one for Class D and Karma and Shinobu the second and third ones for Class B so I should take first place for our class here.
Ryuuen's provocations hadn't been enough, and he had lost the cavalry battle which was the only one of those the all-participant team-events that the boys were supposed to win. Therefore, we had to do well in the scavenger hunt and change plans a bit. Especially for this competition and for four-way-tug-of-war.
When the signal was given I headed towards the box without delay. Taking a paper out, I unfolded it to see the contents.
"A contraceptive."
I immediately tore apart the piece of paper red from fury and requested a change. It would make me lose time, but I definitely would not go to the convenience store to fetch it.
Aghhh! This had to be another one of Karma's little jokes.
The school would never put something like this here, they might put embarrassing things sure, but never something like this.
The students had already run off as I waited for the thirty seconds to redraw my lot as the rules stated. I did so as soon as I was able to.
"A wizard's staff."
I crushed the paper and requested for another change.
What were the chances of getting things Karma put here twice in a row? I could feel my classmates' stares on my back, but I couldn't just go buy a contraceptive or take a wizard's staff out of the nothingness, I wasn't some kind of magician.
Now I had a one-minute handicap.
"A phone."
Finally, on my third draw I got something I could work with. I stormed towards my bag and got my phone. Unfortunately, the one-minute handicap had been decisive, and I finished in last place.
I'm definitely going to kill that idiot.
Tomori Nao POV
I stormed off to get the piece of paper as soon as I heard the signal.
I was a little impatient to find out what I would get. Karma had put an interesting show, and Mikoto had struggled to find something that wasn't an impossible mission.
This was the sixth and last round of the scavenger hunt and my class had gotten one last place, three third places and one second place. Consequently, the mission of getting a first place fell upon me.
And I would fulfil said mission in function of what was written of that paper.
I took out the paper and began to unfold it.
Hmm. All this hype.
What would it be?
A shirt? A clock? A poster? Maybe a camera?
I was so impatient to find out.
"A puppy."
Eh?
Hmm.
Karma was surely the one behind this. The school would never put something that wasn't on campus. Or maybe there was a puppy on campus and karma had found it? Oh, that would be so cool, I always wanted to have a puppy. I wonder what I should call it if I ever get one, though.
Oh, right.
I'm in the middle of a competition.
"I request a change," I said to the responsible.
I had to wait for thirty seconds, so while everyone went to fetch their items, it was me and my thoughts.
But just how did Karma do to put these papers here? Maybe he supervised the preparations for the festival arguing that he had to ensure the budget was kept as established... Well, no matter.
The thirty-seconds passed and I grabbed another paper.
"Glasses."
Satisfied with this, I headed towards Morishige.
"Morishige-kun~"
He looked at me a bit startled.
"Eh? Do you need something, Tomori-san?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I would like you to hand me over your glasses," I said pointing at said object.
Without questioning me any further he just gave me the glasses and I went to the goal where I managed to get third place. Apparently, someone had gotten it rougher than me.
Although I didn't complain. After all, my first lot had been a puppy.
Besides, it's not like my placement would really change anything... I guess.
___________________________________________________________
For Mikoto, I was between the wizard's staff and a coin, but finally went for the former.